UN Public Service Day & Awards

About the United Nations Public Service Awards and Day

The United Nations Public Service Awards is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. Through an annual competition, the UN Public Service Awards promotes the role, professionalism and visibility of public service.

The UN Public Service Day intends to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlight the contribution of public service in the development process; recognize the work of public servants, and encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector. Since the first Awards Ceremony in 2003, the United Nations has received an increasing number of submissions from all around the world.

Update on 2021 United Nations Public Service Awards

While the announcement of the 2021 winners was planned in June, the UN Public Service Award Ceremony (UNPSA) have been rescheduled for December in the United Arab Emirates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public announcement of the winners will be made during the UNPSA Ceremony. The winning institutions have been individually notified.

We sincerely thank you for your continued patience in this manner and we will provide more details as they become available.

Please email your questions to unpsa[at]un[dot]org but note the status of the institution's winning will not be made available until December.